This guide deals with accessing electronic resources through the Texas Medical Center Library from a remote location (outside the library building).
BCM, UTHealth and MD Anderson users do not need to register for OpenAthens.
Being a registered user of the TMC Library does not automatically entitle you to full access of resources.
The TMC Library operates within the constraints of contractual agreements imposed upon us by publishers. In addition, the TMC Library operates under a consortial governing agreement of the major educational institutions of the TMC to which the Library must abide.
For more information on which level of access your institution has, please check this page: https://library.tmc.edu/library-access-membership-program/
OpenAthens is a user authentication and e-resources access system that acts as your gateway to electronic resources licensed by The TMC Library. From the user’s point of view, your right to access full text is validated on the resource side by using your institutional login.
The OpenAthens login option presents itself at resource provider sites. Once you’ve logged in with one site, you probably won’t need to log in again unless you’ve ended your browser session.
OpenAthens adapts to each publisher’s authentication requirements, providing a secure access point using the method most appropriate to that publisher- linking via a proxy server, using a standard protocol, or using a special protocol agreed upon between OpenAthens and one content provider.
With OpenAthens, you can bookmark your favorite resources and use them from anywhere on the web you happen to be.
Baylor College of Medicine, UTHealth and MD Anderson users will experience the most seamless access, because of the Single Sign-On (SSO) technology that these institutions employ internally. BCM, UTHealth and MDA users do not need to register for OpenAthens; they will be recognized and granted access as soon as they have a working institutional email account.
Some users will need to register and establish personal OpenAthens accounts. Get a library card number from The TMC Library and register for remote access. Within two days, the library verifies that your institution has vouched for you. The Library triggers release of an email from OpenAthens that prompts you to follow a link to set up your individual login.
The activation code will expire after 10 days.
Users from these institutions will need to complete the registration form:
Registration form: https://register.openathens.net/library.tmc.edu/register